"We all understand that the problem of stunting cannot be solved by the government alone. We are open to partnering with various parties," she noted in a written statement received here on Thursday.
At the Katadata SAFE 2021 webinar titled "Nutrition for Next Generation," she remarked that despite the government having put in place several special programs to tackle malnutrition and stunting, several limitations still existed, including that related to funding.
According to Listyawardani, collaboration can be intensified through a program of 1,000 partners for the first thousand days of life. In addition, a new initiative -- Healthy Kitchens: Overcome Stunting in Quality Family Villages – was launched.
"We direct the community to work together to provide nutrition for those in need," she emphasized.
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Listyawardani noted that in several of these programs, partners can directly participate in the field to facilitate more targeted and well-monitored implementation.
Vice President General Secretary of Danone Indonesia Vera Galuh Sugijanto echoed the same view. She deems collaboration as crucial, so efforts to improve nutrition for future generations can be more directed and accurate.
Sugijanto further affirmed that her side was currently developing a program to improve nutrition for an advanced generation through the social movement "Let's Show Hands."
Moreover, the Together Prevent Stunting Program encompasses education on nutrition and healthy lifestyles for kindergarten and elementary school age group children, teenagers and families, healthy canteen education, clean access assistance, and education for the public and mass media.
In addition to the collaboration among various parties to overcome malnutrition and stunting, Head of the Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Nurul Ratna Mutu Manikam, emphasized the important roles of mothers and fathers.
"Mothers and fathers must support nutrition in the first one thousand days of life. Hence, pregnant women must be committed to eating nutritious foods," she stressed.
She believes that attention to preventing malnutrition should be emphasized from the time the woman is pregnant to circumvent such problems.
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Translator: Desi P, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
